Hannover, 27.12.89 Instructions for KAOSDESK V2.00 ================================= The important Attributes of KAOSDESK are quite usable without reading the handbook since, so far as possible, all the normal Programming and Design Conventions & Standards have been adhered to. As regards Standards, on the one hand you have programs such as the Atari-Desktop and Neodesk, and on the other hand general GEM-based programs. KAOSDESK is an attempt to get the best of both worlds. KAOSDESK takes advantage of useful functions and operations found on a variety of computers, in particular the Macintosh Finder, the Amiga Workbench and the GEM Desktop 2.0. Because it's screen operations are run through the VDI and AES, KAOSDESK is compatible with any Screen Format. It could be used without a great amount of changes on a PC. Unfortunately I don't have one, otherwise this would already have been done ! 0) General: ------------- KAOSDESK is an alternative Desktop for use under GEM 2.2, Atari GEM and also under KAOS 1.4.1. At the start of the Program, KAOSDESK can alternatively be resident (quicker) or will completely terminate on returning to the DeskTop (more free Memory!). In each case all Windows are self-contained and the Desktop Background consistent. The exit from non-resident KAOSDESK is made through the Operating System function shel_write(), just as does the normal DESKTOP. This greatly eliminates any possible compatibility problems, programs are started in exactly the same manner as under the original Desktop. Under GEM 2.x no problems whatever are encountered using the alternative Desktop, when the needed Function is a component of AES. This is also valid for KAOS 1.4.1, where the possiblity for alternative Desktops is even better. In both cases before the resident programm SHELBUF can start something in an Auto-Folder, a temporary INF- File must be saved. SHELBUF simply puts a 5kB Buffer to the disposal of KAOSDESK for this purpose. The resident Program SHELMAN ("Shell-Manager") is an important part of Atari-GEM. KAOSDESK is able to do without this Program. In order to avoid errors, each time the INF File is loaded the switch "Reload KAOSDESK" is set to "No". SHELMAN saves the last Return-value of a program, so that KAOSDESK in "non-resident start" also reports Return- Codes. SHELMAN works under several Versions of TOS: 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4. For new (or old) versions of the Operating Systems problems could be encountered. In using the Cache-program "ILLEGAL", it's important to note that the Shellmanager may possiblly only start the last program in the AUTO- Folder. The sequence of the programs in the AUTO Folder should be something like the following: EXAMPLE SEQUENCE OF THE AUTO FOLDER FILES: MFXTRB14 (Driver for c't MFII Keyboard) DAT (Program for setting Date & Time) BOOT (Program for selecting ACCs to Boot etc) INSTAL (for SIGNUM2) TEMPLMON GEMSTART ILLEGAL (Cache program) SHELMAN In GEM 2.2 or KAOS 1.4.1, SHELMAN can be placed anywhere you like in the Auto Folder. KAOSDESK has only been tested under KAOS 1.2, TOS 1.4 and KAOS 1.4. However, no problems should arise using other Operating Systems. Under Atari GEM the time will be displayed on the extreme right of the Menu bar, in Hours and Minutes. The time will be updated every 10 seconds providing no Dialog or Menu work is in progress. This is because the time is run under a single evnt_timer. This does not have to be switched off when starting a program since it will disappear automatically. Nevertheless you can switch it off using the "Change Settings" option if required. All Scrolling is done via the AES (obj_draw), the hierarchy highest level of the Operating System. The Effect is that the output via the improved Screen Driver is essentially much faster than most other programs (including the Atari Desktop). Neodesk writes text with Line-A routines, and programs such as Turbo-ST are generally no faster and in fact output text more slowly than KAOSDESK. The use of Line-A is, therefore, to be avoided if possible. Scrolling follows the Blit- Operationof the VDI (vro_cpyfm), naturally not using Line-A. It is usually possible to choose the highest Operating System level, in order to profit by any Updates to the Operating System. Similarly with other System add-ons (Large-screen with proper VDI Driver or GEM 2.2 etc). In all operations where the window contents are changed, a new window will be redrawn only if necessary: - In uncompleted Copy and Delete functions the Drive Window is not redrawn. - Generally, in Copy functions only the Window carrying the Destination- Table is redrawn (Atari-Desktop 1.4). - Should actual copies or deletes be requested and the Medium is Write- Protected, the action will not be completed and the Window will not be redrawn. - If "Show as Text" or "Show as Icons" is selected, then the Window will be redrawn only if the Show Mode has changed. - If "Single-column" Text Mode is selected or de-selected, so only those Windows which are not already single column will be redrawn. - If a Window is made smaller then that Window will be redrawn if the reduction forces resorting, E.g. the Number of displayed columns is smaller. - If a lower Window is enlarged, KAOSDESK sends a redraw instruction only if the Window Object must be relocated. E.g. space for new columns is required. KAOSDESK cannot therefore suffer from the GEM Error causing all windows to be redrawn under these circumstances. - If the Text size is changed the Window will be redrawn only if "Show as text" is in operation. In all DOS Functions Error Codes are requested and analysed. So, on receiving a "Data on Disk A defective..." message, you never have to click on "Abort" more than once. In all DOS and BIOS Calls, if an Error occurs and the corresponding action is uncompleted, the appropriate Error code and explanitory text is displayed. For all Errors there is a particular Error message. E.g. in Copy or Delete operations, the File and Drive where the Error happened will be shown. Also "Disk Full" will be handled by KAOSDESK internally and the corresponding message displayed. KAOSDESK was written specifically for the Monochrome Monitor. However, it contains no specific Constants for Text height, Screen Coordinates etc., and should therefore cause no problems if used in other screen resolutions. KAOSDESK runs without problems on the Atari large-screen Monitor and will even work on a large-screen Simulator which creates a virtual monitor in memory and allows you to scroll the visible screen around the virtual "large screen". Problem are only really encountered in Low Resolution, there the Monitor is simply too small. This situation can be improved (but not cured) by using a special Resource File for Low Res. The KAOSDESK.INF File is Resolution-dependant. Therefore all Coordinates are not absolute, instead being relative to the utilizable screen area it was Saved from. The up to date Width and Height of the screen-area will also have been Saved at this time. If a previously-saved INF File is loaded, Height or Width needs to make sense in context. The Object is therefore that each Resolution is properly portrayed and the screen completely filled. These comments are equally valid for the Icon editor ICNEDIT. Low Resolution Support: ------------------------ If KAOSDESK is started with a horizontal Resolution of less than 640 Pixels, the File "KDESKL.RSC" will be loaded instead of "KAOSDESK.RSC". This contains a shorter Menu Bar and smaller Dialog Boxes. The appearance in Low Res is still a bit unsatisfactory but at least is an improvement. Until the Dialogs "TTP-Parameter enter", "Program" and "Change Environment" are selected, you must proceed more or less blind. All remaining Functions are pretty well usable in Low Resolution. Most operations can be aborted by pressing SHIFT-SHIFT. 1) Unusual Window Operations: ----------------------------------- I have given you only one vertical Scrollbar. The horizontal one will not be needed, the Icons or Text lines will always be visible. This means for example, that in every change of Window width the maximum number of Objects per line will automatically be calculated. The horizontal Scrollbar shows the free disk space; the white border represents the occupied Bytes, a Window with a completely white lower border shows the disk to be nearly full. Operations on the horizontal Scrollbar (Clicking or Move) always show the free memory for the corresponding Diskdrive. For the calculation of free disk space I have not used the DOS Function Dfree(), pre-TOS 1.4 versions are much too slow. Instead I have created my own routine to check the FAT via BIOS. It determines there the size of each sector with Getbpb() since it will not always necessarily be 512 Bytes. KAOSDESK also needs to know about the large Sectors of Atari Hard Disk Drivers from AHDI 3.0. The Calculation of free memory is done only after the opening of a Window and after operations which could alter free disk space; (Copy, Delete, Move) and naturally on pressing Esc to read in the Attributes of a newly- inserted disk. The operation "Open Folder", "Close Folder", "Rename File", and "Rename Folder" do NOT lead to the calculation of free space. In "Show Disk Info" free space will be generated with the help of DOS Functions. The Info Line also contains information about selected File(s), so that you can nearly always do without the Dialog "Show Info" and the corresponding Icon only selected when needed. In the selection of several Files the Bytes are combined. If a Window does not contain a valid Path when the disk is read, then it will automatically default to the Root Directory. Example: you open an AUTO Folder, and display the contents in a Window; then insert a new disk. The new Disk has no AUTO Folder. If you now try, inside the AUTO Folder, to open a further Folder or simply press Esc, KAOSDESK will automatically switch to the Root Directory. Before each "event-multi" all Windows are updated, reflecting any change of disk etc. Via this function, ALL open Windows are redrawn. You can activate or leave a Window by using the CTRL-W toggle. Under KAOS 1.4.1 there is also the "Backdrop" Button (left lower) which allows you to quickly send a Window to the background and activating another. All Windows together can contain a maximum of 600 Objects; the dynamic memory management of the Windows permits you to display whatever Files you like. If a Window contains more Objects than KAOSDESK still has free slots for, as many as possible are displayed and the Info Line in the Window contains the Overflow message. To change the Mask, no Disk operation is necessary. The whole Table will be retained in memory. On the change of Show Mode (Sort, Mask, Show etc.) the Files not deselected can be subject to the following Tricks: - All Files with Ending .H or .C selected: Mask *.* selected and all Icons deselected. Mask *.C selected. "all selected" Mask *.H selected. "all sellected" Mask *.* selected. - All Files other than those Ending in .C selected: Mask *.* selected. "all selected" Mask *.C selected all Icons deselected. Mask *.* selected. 2) Unusual Icon operations: ---------------------------------- If no KAOSDESK.INF is present, all active Diskddrives, Printer and Waste Paper Basket symbols are automatically displayed. Drives A: and B: become Floppydisks, C: to F: are registered as Harddisks and further Drives shown as Ramdisks. All displayed Icons show the Name the Disk etc. If an Icon for Disk Drive A: is opened and the Disk in 'A' is named "KAOSDESK", then all Diskicons for Drive A: will have the legend "KAOSDESK". If an inserted disk has no name then the default "FLOPPY DISK" will be used. All Icons on the Desktop and in the Windows can be activated: 1) Clicking on an Icon deactivates all other Icons and activates the clicked Icon. 2) SHIFT-Click on an Icon inverts the Status; Selected/Deselected. With Shift you can activate simultaneously several Objects in several Windows or on the Desktop. With this function you are able to select program/file parameters which are contained in different Windows. When using the Copy/Move function, only Object in ONE Window or the Desktop can be processed. 3) You may drag out a 'Rubber band' by pressing and holding the SHIFT- Key. The "caught" Icons become inverted. It is also possible to drag out several Rubber bands. During the dragging operation the Mouse Pointer will change to a pointing hand. 4) By pressing and holding the Right Mouse Button you can communicate with in inactive Window. 5) Clicking on an empty place in a Window or on the Desktop deactivates all Icons. The Window(s) will return to 'normal' operation; Scroll, Move, Show as Icon/Text, Change Sort Mode etc. are NOT changed. 6) If the SHIFT-Key is pressed in conjunction with '5)' then the action will be ignored. In moving Icons about with the Mouse it should be apparent that only Icons in ONE Window or on the Desktop can be moved simultaneously. The following operations can be carried out with Icons: - ONE Icon at a time can be dragged from a Window onto the Desktop. Up to 20 Files or Folders can lie on the Desktop. This overcomes the limitation in NEODESK. Folders can be opened and Files examined by using "Show Info". In contrast to Window-Icons however, KAOSDESK needs a Disk access. Besides the usual operations such as Copy, Move etc. is possible with all Desktop-Icons. However Delete, or the Dustbin, will only remove the Icon from the DeskTop and not delete the File itself from disk. - Icon(s) on the Desktop can be moved. - Icons can be put into the Waste Paper Basket. Desktop-Files only have their Icons removed. IN OTHER CASES THE FILE WILL BE DELETED FROM THE APPROPRIATE DISK. - Icon(s) can be moved to the Printer. Under the heading "Settings" the Print routine parameters can be adjusted. The Dialog "Settings" permits the setting of various switches after the File name: E.g. "C:\PRINT.TTP -S -T5". This switch ALWAYS comes automatically unless you specify otherwise. - Waste Paper Basket can be moved to the Printer. The Print routine will be started without further parameters. - Icons can be moved to Window/Folder/Drive Icons. The Files/Path can be copied or moved. For the latter, the CTRL-Key should be pressed and held. It doesn't mater whether the Destination Folder is in a Window or on the Desktop. If you wish to Rename several Files, you can create your own Table where you may select the wanted Files to br moved (CTRL-Key pressed and held). If you see the message "Filename already exists" then you must enter a new name. - Double Click on an Icon while pressing the CTRL-Key. The program will produce a TTP-Dialog before starting. Files shown in the "Settings" list loaded into the installed Standard Application. This also works with several File selections via CTRL-SHIFT-Double Click. - Double Click on an Icon while pressing the ALT-Key. Program will be displayed on screen as characters. - Double Click on an Icon. Program immediately started. Files with an installed Standard Application are started, or a text File displayed as characters. 3) Icon Types: -------------------- In "Show as Text", all executable Programs are indicated by a 'Full Stop' immediately to the left of the program name. In general Programs shown with an Icon (Files with PRG, APP, TOS, TTP), have their own stylised Icons. Batch Files (BAT,BTP) have likewise a special Symbol. All incidental Files are shown as empty squares with the top right corner folded over. Additional Icons can be displayed by registering them in the Icon-File KAOSDESK.ICN. The Icon Classifications are stored in the Textfile NAMES.TXT and you should use a Text Editor to make any desired changes to this. You must then generate a new Icon File containing this data by running MKICONS.TOS. You may create your own customised Icon File if you wish: - Icons are created or edited, loaded and saved, in the Icon Editor: ICNEDIT. Program Icons have the Extension ".ICP", File Icons ".ICD". - The classification of File Names is contained in the Text file NAMES.TXT, which you may alter with a Text editor. The example files will give you an idea of the required format. Instead of just the Icon's File Name, you may also specify the complete Path. Icons of files not shown are NOT controlled by the Icon File. - When you eventually start up the Program MKICONS.TOS, and 'compile' the Text File, all Icons for the same File are bound together. - The File you ultimately create: 'KAOSDESK.ICN' must always reside in the same Folder as KAOSDESK.PRG. x) The Icon Editor: ICNEDIT ---------------------------- This is the first complete Version (1.00), as before any screen format is supported. The Icons in your resulting valid Form show immediately a parameter is opened. ICNEDIT can be used to simply construct or modify additonal Icons for Programs and File types. Icons for Dustbin, Printer, Disk drive, Batch Files as well as the Standard Program and Printer Icons cannot be changed. ICNEDIT works with File types: .ICP (Program Icon) and .ICD (File Icon) occupying just 112 Bytes. A maximum of one Program Icon and one File Icon can be opened at any time. In invalid File names or in more than one Parameter of the same type will produce an Error Message. Each Icon has the Format 32 (Width) times 28 (Height), although all Pixels cannot be set or deleted, instead only those inside the same Template within ICNEDIT; you cannot alter the Icon Mask, modifications are made to the Template. Pixels are set by pressing the left Mouse button and deleted by pressing both buttons or SHIFT-Right button. Each set and deleted Pixel will be simultaneously displayed below in an originally- sized Icon. The script associated with the Icon shows the actual File name (without Path). ICNEDIT works in principle in any Resolution. In Low Resolution the Menus will appear rather too big, and the Icon Fields also won't look too great. This is a little unsightly but otherwise everything functions. The size is determined via the use of Line A Variables; so this should also be ok for large-screen operation. 4) Start Program: --------------------- When starting a Standard Program (see Dialog "Program") with ^B, ^E or ^Fn all programs are started up from their own Directory(!). This doesn't function under GEM 2.2 because of an Error in DESKTOP.APP, apparently the brilliant new AES always uses the Index Table, when the Call was actually from shel_write(). At the start of programs, when KAOSDESK is not resident, a shel_write()- Call will be made and KAOSDESK exits. The up to date Window Settings etc cannot unfortunately be copied into the AES Buffer. This is to do with the Byte size of 1024 Bytes (GEM 2.2, TOS 1.0, TOS 1.2) and 4096 Bytes (TOS 1.4), Unfortunately this is too small because KAOSDESK.INF is approx 5.5 Kb. Instead it will either copy the Status into a Buffer of SHELMAN or produce a File called KAOSDESK.TMP, then after things have run their course KAOSDESK.INF will be loaded. Under Atari GEM using SHELMAN instead, the program will be started via its own Index Table and after terminating KAOSDESK will again be run, provided that no new shel_write() has been made. On the shel_write() Call with the Parameter "isover" = 0 under GEM 2.2 an Error may occur and it's best avoided. The usual result is Bombs. Before starting a program, a verify check will be carried out to ensure that the program file exists. If the AES cannot locate the File with shel_find(), and the "Reload KAOSDESK" Mode is active, then the DESKTOP will be loaded again. If "Stop after TOS Program" is activated under the "Change Settings" heading, KAOSDESK will wait after leaving a TOS Program for a keypress or Mouse Click. Before returning to KAOSDESK after exiting a program the Mouse will be switched on via the VDI, so that it will be visible when required. Difficulty can occur if it was switched off with a graf_mouse() Call (therefore using AES instead of VDI). AES uses its own references and stupidly gives no possibility of making the Mouse immediately visible. No amount of Show Mouse Calls will help in this situation. One solution is to access an undocumented System Variable (namely the AES-reference), forcing the Mouse to be made visible. This however will only work under TOS 1.2 and 1.4. KAOSDESK distinguishes between "normal errors" and Program Return- values. The latter appear in an Alert Box with the Line "Program Return:" displayed. x) Files Copy/Move/Delete: ------------------------------ In Copy functions the whole of available memory will be used, unless one of the participating storage Media is a Ramdisk (recognised by it's Icon). Then just 50 Kb will be used. In the Dialog "Copy/Move/Delete Files" you can use the Button "Confirm" to change the setting of "Confirm Overwrites". The Button in the Dialog "Change Settings" will also be changed. The Dialog Box is not displayed if "Confirm Copy" under "Change Settings" is not selected. During Copy/Move/Delete operations KAOSDESK will display which File/Folder is being worked on. These actions can be aborted by pressing both SHIFT Keys; you may have to wait a little until the Operating System closes down the current Read/Write operation properly. 5) Show Files: ------------------ Before every 'Show' the VT52 Emulator is initialised. Files with the ending ".DOC" can contain special WORDPLUS characters and still print out correctly. To stop the output you may press the left Mouse button "Again" and the right button for "Abort". The following Keys have special functions: - G (Go) Switches into Hold Mode. The Output can be restarted by pressing any key. - ^C,N,Q. Break. - Spacebar. Next page. - D Next half page. - + 4096 Bytes forward. - - 4096 Bytes back, also shows "--EOF--" x) About KAOSdesk: ---------------------- Under the heading "About KAOSdesk" you will find information on the current Program Version. In addition to this, total memory available together with free memory is shown. Total memory will taken from "phystop". No account is taken of memory reserved for RamDisks or other User-designated functions. Having KAOSDESK resident inevitably takes up more of your valuable memory and this should be borne in mind. x) File: Show Info: ----------------------- Write-protecting and Renaming of Files with "Show File Info" is very straightforward. Under the Atari-Desktop you cannot simply Rename a Write-protected file, because you are not given access to the four File Attributes: unless you use a PD 'patch'. Now the four Attributes are presented on screen for you to alter if necessary, you simply click the appropriate button and finish by clicking on 'OK. You can also choose which format you prefer for the date: 6.2.86 or 0.0.2028 etc. In "Show Folder Info" you may rename Folders providing you are using TOS 1.4, otherwise you will likely get the Error "File not found". If you want to rename a Folder under an older version of TOS, you can try moving it on the same Directory level and when the "Folder already exists" message appears enter the new Name. This will duplicate the old Folder under its new name. "Show Disk Info" displays all the available info about the disk in the selected Drive: Cluster and Sector sizes, Bootsector information. You are given the number of Tracks, Sectors per Track and even a clearly visible (inverse text) message if the Bootsector is executable and therefore might conceal a Virus. x) File: Open: ------------------ First click on a file to activate it, then click on 'Open'. ^O may be used instead of Mouse clicks. x) File: Delete ------------------- This is provided for convenience since occasionally the Dustbin will be "invisible" under an open Window. It only affects files in the topmost Window. The keyboard shortcut ^L can be used if preferred. x) File: Copy Disk: ------------------------ The Copying of Disks can be done by overlaying one disk Icon on top of another. But again the Menu option is provided for convenience. This is an "intelligent" Copy routine, which will automatically analyse the Source Disk and Format the Destination Disk to the same parameters. Choosing "No Format" of course bypasses this operation and you should make sure that you have previously Formatted the destination Disk! Should the Destination Disk be unformatted then you will be told this and given the option to restart with 'Format' switched on. The Track being Read/Written is displayed on screen, allowing you to easily follow the copying process. Destination/Source Disk can be changed by clicking on A: and B:. The specification "Temporary Drive" allows the owner of a small ST (1 MB), but with a Hard Disk, to copy a double-sided disk with only one disk swop. The complete Source Disk will be read in and stored as a file on the Temporary Drive. Then you can insert the destination Disk and write out the information again. The temporary file will then be deleted. If you have enough memory available, a temporary file is unnecessary. If a Disk Error occurs, an Alertbox will appear showing the Error Code and with the following options: Abort : Terminate Function. Again : Repeat the Function (maybe after removing Write Protection). Cont : Ignore the Error and carry on. The second Button, "Again", is the Default button. The action can be terminated at any time by pressing both SHIFT-Keys. If a copy operation is terminated before completion, you should be aware that the Directory will not have been correctly written and any data transferred will NOT be reliable. x) File: Format: --------------------- The option "Format" is only active after a Disk Drive Icon has been highlighted by clicking on it. The Drive selected must of course have been properly installed. In the top line you can enter a name for your new disk, which KAOSDESK will display under the appropriate Disk Icon when that disk is read in. This can be an extremely useful function and you are advised to name all your disks for this purpose. Formatting is done in exactly the same manner as in TOS 1.4. The standard configuration is 80 Tracks/9 Sectors per Track, and the Bootsector is produced with XBIOS (Protobt). Otherwise the FAT size will be custom- calculated. It's quite possible to enter any number of sectors and tracks for formatting, however you should not use more than 86 Tracks and 10 sectors. The possiblity exists for owners of hard Disks to format 18 or more sectors if desired. Formatting will begin on the highest track. You can abort the process at any time by pressing both SHIFT keys simultaneously. If your Drive is incapable of writing to the highest track number you have specified, an Error will result. Try fewer tracks! x) File: Exit ----------------- On exiting KAOSDESK to the Desktop, particularly in older TOS Versions, that the AES attempts to load an unnamed program. This is normal and unfortunately cannot be avoided. On leaving "To DOS" a shel_write() - with "doex " = FALSE. This Call should supposedly tell the PC that GEM has terminated. Under GEM 2.2 this should operate correctly. Under TOS 1.0 and 1.2 the AES will be newly initialised. x) Options: Install Disk Drive: ------------------------------------ The Entry "Install Drive" provides the buttons "Change" and "Remove". These functions work on the particular Icons (Drive, Dustbin or Printer) which you have previously hightlighted. The Button "Change" tells KAOSDESK you wish to alter the specification of an existing Icon rather than create a new one. If you wish to use a different Icon type then simply click on it with the Mouse; the selected Icon will immediately be changed. When Creating Icons you will need to position it correctly on the DeskTop after choosing the Icon type, Drive letter etc. The responsibility for selecting the correct Icons (Hard Disk, Disk, Ramdisk) for the appropriate Device lies with the User. You should quickly become familiar with the operation of KAOSDESK and be able to easily distinguish between the different Media. x) Options: Install Application: ------------------------------------- The Entry "Install Application" is only selectable if a Program Icon or a File Icon is highlighted. The choice "GEM", "TOS", "TTP" is available. Programs which make no use of the Mouse should have the extensions .TOS or .TTP. Others the extensions .PRG or .APP. The difference between .TOS and .TTP (TOS takes parameters) is that the User must specify parameters before a .TTP program will operate correctly. This is done in a Dialog Box which will appear after you click on the .TTP program. Under "Install Application" you should provide the complete Path where the desired program can be found, (up to 80 Characters). The Number of File types is limited to 2, this restriction cannot be changed. x) Options: Program ------------------------ You must supply full Path details and/or parameters for the Print program in "Settings". You should always remember to enter Filenames in Upper case, in order that the programs can be located properly. The Entries ^F1 to ^F12 allow you to use various program functions with a single keypress. Function Keys F11 and F12 don't however exist on an ST Keyboard, and therefore these options are not available. If the Program begins with an '*', then parameters can be transferred. Otherwise things operate in the usual manner. x) Options: Change Environment: --------------------------------- The Environment has the same Function on the ST as on the PC, however it is hardly ever used. KAOSDESK nevertheless supports Environment specifications up to 8 Characters in the form "NAME=value" or alternatively "PATH=c:\am/is\;a:\". By convention, the name is entered in upper case letters. Environment specification is only permitted in "KAOSDESK resident" Mode. If a program requires the presence of Environment parameters then it should take control of the Command Processor immediately after starting, i.e. it must be a DOS-oriented program which does not use GEM. x) Options: Save DeskTop: ----------------------------- "Save DeskTop" will Save the INF File on the Disk Drive from which the last INF file was loaded. Otherwise on the Drive from which KAOSDESK was started. x) Options: Blitter: ---------------------- The Entry "Blitter" is inactive on an ST without a Blitter chip installed and the Menu Entry will be "disabled". Otherwise you may select to have the Blitter switched On or Off. x) Keyboard Commands: ------------------------ The letter keys and SHIFT allow you to select and open Drives (Twice as fast as using the Mouse). With the letter keys and CTRL-SHIFT you can load a new INF File from the relevant Drive. The Icon File will NOT be reloaded. If no INF File exists on the selected Drive, you are given the option of terminating the function or using the Default settings. The Spacebar allows you to de-select all items with a single keypress. The contents of the upper Window can be scrolled by using the Up and Down Cursor keys. The Undo Key automatically returns you to the Root Directory of the active Window from within nested Folders. 8) Recognise Cache: ----------------------- Under "Settings" you will find the Cache-recognition switch. This Cache automatically supports all disk operations. Before each operation the Cache is switched On and afterward turned Off again. If the Cache is not in the System, no error message will be generated. A "gemdos(201,drv)" call is used to switch on the Cache, and "gemdos(202,drv) to switch it off. Cache Initialisation will assist the following operations: - Recursive Search of Directory Trees (Delete, Copy, Show Info) - Deleting of Files (faster access to the correct Path etc.) - Copying of Files (as above) 8) Limitations: -------------------- Number of different Disk Drives Max. 16 Number of Windows 4 Number of Icons on the Desktop Max. 32 Total number of Files Max. 600 Number of Files/Folder on the Desktop Max. 20 Number of Application Programs Max. 20 Maximum Pathlength for Desktop/Program Icons Max. 80 characters Maximum Pathlength for Disk Operations Max. 128 characters Maximumale Path tiers Max. 8 levels Number of additional Program Icons Max. 120 Number of additional File Icons Max. 100 Number of displayable Filename Icons Unlimited Improvements: V1.04 -> V1.06 ------------------------------ - The Shellmanager has been modified for TOS 1.4. Previously it was not possible to "Reload KAOSDESK" after exiting from a TOS Program. - The setting of Standard Paths in "KAOSDESK Resident" has been corrected. Previously there was a problem that could leave the remains of the window from which a program was started on screen. - KAOSDESK and the new Version 1.04 of the Shell Manager now uses Paths in exactly the same way in "Reload KAOSDESK" as in "KAOSDESK resident". The Path must obey the standard rules of the AES/Desktop, the trick is to persuade things to work correctly in all versions of GEMDOS. - The routine for selecting Icons with the Rubber Band has been rewritten. Clicking alongside to the Icon, between the Picture and Text is no longer recognised. - The Floppy routine for Formatting and Copying of Disks has been rewritten and an "Event- Manager" simulated. In contrast to the AES Error Messages are much clearer and offer the following possibilites: Abort: Function will abandoned. Again: Repeat the Function (perhaps after removing Write-Protect) Cont : Ignore the Error and carry on regardless! The second button, "Again", is the Default button. - Windows now have a usable left horizontal Scroll Arrow, which normally has no significance. Under the new AES (GEM.PRG) you can use this Arrow to move the Window into the Backgound. KAOSDESK uses the new AES Call "wind_set(whdl,WF_BACK)". Improvements: V1.06 -> V2.00 ------------------------------ - The Menu entry "Blitter" will be "disabled" if no Blitter is present. - The Blitter status will be Read in along with the INF File, not the first time the Menu entry is selected. - By default Icon File search will look in the same Directory from which KAOSDESK was started. - When selecting objects in Windows with the Rubber Band, as in "Show as Text" a new routine has been written to replace the normal objc_offset(). A reasonable increase in speed has been achived in this way. - If a Directory contains more Files than can be displayed, the message "more than Files" will appear instead of as previously "Too many Files". is of course the number of displayable Files. - KAOSDESK now supports KAOS 1.4.1 to the fullest extent and uses the new AES Functions shel_rdef() and shel_wdef(). For the Function "Stop after TOS Program" Kaos uses Bit 8 of Sconfig()- Status longword. - The limit of 200 Objects per Window has been extended by using a much more complex memory management system routine. Instead of 200 Objects per Window, you can now have 600 (Atari Desktop 1.0 and 1.2: 400 Objects). This has a dynamic effect on the contents of opened Windows. It is not anticipated that many people will encounter the "more than Files" message! - In "File Copy/Move/Delete" you can use the Button "Confirm" to force "Confirm before Overwrite". - During Copy/Move/Delete the File/Folder being manipulated will be shown in the Dialog Box. - The Dialog "Change Settings" has been sub-divided. The original can now be found under the Dialog "Program". - A new Dialog "Program" has been added. As well as usual programs "Command", "Output" and "Editor" you can now enter 8 further programs using the Control and Function keys F1 to F8. Normally the programs should be in the same Path from which KAOSDESK was started, and they cannot transfer parameters. If you start the Path with '*', then that indicates that the program lies in a different Directory. - In the Dialog "Disk Info" you will now find that "Change Disk Name" is the Default button. If you have not changed the name then of course no action will be taken, - Because of the increased size of the INF File, a new Version of SHELMAN was necessary. However, the amount of Buffer memory you have has not been changed. - The Time is switchable. This only works though when the program is restarted. - The Entry "Reload KAOSDESK" in the Menu "Change Settings" now replaces "KAOSDESK Resident" and means the exact opposite! - The Entry "Show Info" can now be selected from the keyboard with ^I or Tab, instead of ALT-I. - The Entry "Open" in the File Menu can now be selected from the keyboard with ^O instead of ALT-O. - A new Entry "Delete" has been added to the File menu, and can be selected from the keyboard by pressing ^L. ====================================================================== = English translation by Bob MacLeod, for Floppyshop: 1991 = = Fixed for Medium res by Steve Delaney for Floppyshop: 1991 = ======================================================================